Liquid Textile-Pretreating Agent

Abstract

The present invention concerns a liquid textile-pretreating agent useful in all continuous and batch pretreatment operations which is based on phosphoric esters of alkoxylated Guerbet alcohols and is very stable to alkali not only in the formulation but also in the liquor. It is usually used in the form of an aqueous composition having an active content in the range from 40% to 70% by weight, with or without 0.1% to 3.5% by weight of further auxiliary materials, examples being surfactants, biocides, defoamers or foam suppressants.

1 . A compound of the formula (I) 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein
 m is from 1 to 3, 
 n is 2 or 3, 
 x is from 6 to 8, and 
 R is a radical of the formula (II) 
 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       
         where 
         r is from 2 to 6, 
         s is from 0 to 4, 
         the sum total of (r+s) is from 5 to 7, and wherein 
         the alkyl chains are linear or branched. 
       
     
   
   
       2 . A compound according to  claim 1  wherein
 m is from 1 to 2,   n is 2,   x is 7,   r is 4,   s is 2, and   the sum total of (r+s) is 6.   
   
   
       3 . A process for preparing a compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of alkoxylating and subsequently phosphating a Guerbet alcohol of the formula R—OH, wherein R is a radical of the formula (II). 
   
   
       4 . A process according to  claim 3 , wherein the Guerbet alcohol is a C 10 -Guerbet alcohol and wherein the alkoxylating step further comprises reacting the C 10 -Guerbet alcohol with ethylene oxide to form an alkoxylated C 10 -Guerbet alcohol and the phosphating step further comprises reacting the alkoxylated C 10 -Guerbet alcohol with phosphorus pentoxide. 
   
   
       5 . A composition comprising at least one compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 1  and water. 
   
   
       6 . A composition according to  claim 5  comprising 40% to 70% by weight of the at least one compound of the formula (I), with 2% to 4% by weight being present in the form of the sodium salt, and 0.1% to 3.5% by weight of at least one auxiliary, selected from the group consisting of surfactants, biocides, defoamers and foam suppressants. 
   
   
       7 . A process for producing a composition according to  claim 6 , comprising the step of mixing at least one compound of the formula (I) and at least one auxiliary in an aqueous medium. 
   
   
       8 . A process for pretreating a textile material comprising the step of pretreating a textile material with a compound of the formula (I) according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       9 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein the pretreatment step comprises continuous or batch pretreatment operations under alkaline conditions. 
   
   
       10 . A process for pretreating a textile material comprising the step of pretreating a textile material with a composition according to  claim 5 . 
   
   
       11 . A textile material pretreated with a compound according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       12 . A textile material pretreated with a composition according to  claim 5 . 
   
   
       13 . A pretreated textile material made in accordance with the process according to  claim 8 . 
   
   
       14 . A pretreated textile material made in accordance with the process according to  claim 9 .